Country visit
Breakthrough necessary to ensure the equality and dignity of Roma people and people with disabilities in the Czech Republic
“The Czech Republic should spare no effort to address the long-standing problem of the exclusion of Roma people and people with disabilities, and to ensure that they can live in equality and dignity”, said Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, today, following her...
Statement
Remembering the Holocaust commits us to delivering on genocide prevention
Every year around this day, a commitment is reaffirmed that the Holocaust will forever be a “warning to all people of the dangers of hatred, bigotry, racism and prejudice” (UN Resolution) and a promise is renewed that we will not allow genocide to happen again. Our generation and generations to...
Statement
Roma Holocaust Day is both about our duty to remember and the need to tackle persisting discrimination against Roma
Ahead of the European Roma Holocaust Memorial Day on 2 August, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, calls on all states to recognise past and present human rights violations affecting Roma people and to step up efforts to ensure the protection their rights in all...
Statement on International Roma Day
Let us fight discrimination and prejudices against Roma fleeing the war in Ukraine
Ahead of International Roma Day, my thoughts are with Ukrainian Roma who not only suffer from the consequences of the horrific war in Ukraine but also often face discrimination and prejudices in Europe when fleeing Ukraine. In these difficult times, it is even more important to protect Roma and...
Statement
Commemoration of the Roma Holocaust: we should combat antigypsyism and discrimination against Roma at all times
Every year on 2 August, we commemorate the Roma Holocaust perpetrated during the Second World War and pay tribute to the victims of horrendous past human rights violations, including deportation and extermination. Now more than ever, we should all continue to confront the deeply rooted prejudices...
Letter
Slovak Republic: the government should deliver justice to victims of forced sterilisation through a compensation mechanism
In a letter to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice of the Slovak Republic, published today, the Commissioner calls on the government to set up a mechanism to ensure prompt and effective access to reparations for victims of forced or coercive sterilisation. This is a long-standing...
Letter
The Senate of the Czech Republic should adopt the draft law on compensation for victims of forced sterilisation
In a letter to the Senate of the Czech Republic, published today, the Commissioner expresses her support for the adoption of the Proposal for a law for a one-off financial compensation for victims of unlawful sterilisation. In her letter, she follows up on her dialogue with the Czech Chamber of...
Letter
United Kingdom: Parliamentarians should reject restrictions on peaceful demonstration, criminalisation of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities
In a letter to the UK House of Commons and House of Lords, published today, the Commissioner urged parliamentarians to reject restrictions on peaceful demonstrations contained in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. She also urges them to reject a new proposed criminal offence of...
Speech
Exchange of views with the European Committee of Social Rights
Good afternoon to you all and thank you very much for the invitation to this exchange of views! This is the first time that we meet, and the timing is certainly good. Even though there are signs of relief now, at least in Europe, the Covid-19 pandemic has been much more than just a health crisis:...
Rule 9
Czech authorities should adopt broader measures to end school segregation of Roma children
The Commissioner published today her submission to the Committee of Ministers in the context of the supervision of the execution of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights of 2007 in the case of D.H. and Others v. the Czech Republic. This case relates to the violation of Article 14 of...
Rule 9
Bulgarian authorities should prevent forced evictions, tackle the stigmatisation and marginalisation of Roma and improve their access to adequate housing, including social housing
The Commissioner published today her submission to the Committee of Ministers in the context of the supervision of the execution of the judgment of 24 April 2012 by the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Yordanova and Others v. Bulgaria. The case concerns the planned eviction of Roma...
Statement
Commemoration of the Roma Holocaust: it is imperative to act relentlessly to combat anti-Gypsyism
Remembering the victims of the Roma Holocaust on 2 August is a crucial moment every year. It plays a key role in the fight against racism and discrimination which targets them. I welcome the fact that more and more actors across Europe are involved in exposing the tragic chapters of Roma history...
Country visit report
The Republic of Moldova should ratify the Istanbul Convention, improve its response to hate speech and advance access to quality healthcare, affordable housing and social inclusion for all
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published today a report on her visit to the Republic of Moldova in March this year – which included travel to Comrat (Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia) and Tiraspol - with recommendations on violence against women and...
Human Rights Comment
Learning from the pandemic to better fulfil the right to health
The COVID-19 pandemic has concentrated minds about the resilience of our health care systems and it is challenging member states’ health policies and their effectiveness. In addition, doctors, medical staff and health care staff are under unprecedented pressure. Do we have sufficient medical...
Statement
Governments must ensure equal protection and care for Roma and Travellers during the COVID-19 crisis
Every year, on the occasion of International Roma Day, governments are reminded of the need to improve the living conditions of the many impoverished and marginalised Roma in Europe and step up measures to combat the discrimination they face. This call should resonate even more loudly this year,...
Country visit report
Stronger commitment needed to combat racism, fight gender stereotypes and increase media freedom in Bulgaria
Today the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published a report on the visit to Bulgaria she carried out in November 2019. The report focuses on racism, intolerance and discrimination; violence against women and domestic violence; and media freedom. The Commissioner...
Country visit
Bulgaria should counter harmful narratives endangering human rights and step up efforts to fight hate speech and domestic violence
“The government should step up its efforts to fight the hate speech prevailing today in Bulgaria in particular against Roma, LGBTI people and other minority groups” said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, today after a 5-day visit to the country. Hate speech and...
Opinion article
Drawing the right lessons from the Roma Holocaust
OpenDemocracy, 01/08/2019 On 2 August, we will commemorate the Roma Holocaust perpetrated during the Second World War. It is an important occasion to draw renewed attention to this largely ignored page of Europe’s recent history. And it remains equally crucial to confront the deeply-rooted...
Human Rights Comment
European states must demonstrate resolve for lasting and concrete change for Roma people
On 8 April, we will celebrate International Roma Day. This is a day to celebrate Roma culture and Roma contributions to European societies, and the cultural diversity of Europe. The 8th of April, which commemorates the first World Romani Congress held in London in April 1971, should also be a...
Speech
Creating trust through uncovering and recognising the truth: advancing recognition and remedy for antigypsyism
Dear Commissioners, members of parliaments, representatives of the Roma community, distinguished participants: As I was preparing for this speech, I looked back at my first year as Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights to recall examples of work I have done to promote truth and...
Country visit report
Albania should continue improving child protection and inclusion of persons with disabilities
“The protection of children and inclusion of persons with disabilities has improved in Albania, but the authorities still have to address remaining shortcomings”, said today Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, while releasing the report on her visit to the country...
Speech
Commemoration of the Roma Holocaust: our duty to remember, and to combat persisting anti-Gypsyism in today’s Europe
Today, Commissioner Mijatović is participating, in Auschwitz-Birkenau, in the ceremony of commemoration of the Roma Holocaust during the Second World War. In her speech she pays respect to the survivors of the genocide, stresses the duty to remember and the crucial importance of combating...
Statement
Ukrainian authorities should step up their efforts to stop attacks against Roma and human rights defenders
On Saturday night, a group of masked men attacked a Roma camp in western Ukraine, killing one young person and injuring four others, including a child. I wish to express my condolences to the family of the person killed and I hope that the injured will soon recover. I urge the Ukrainian...
Country visit report
Switzerland should reinforce its human rights protection framework and better respond to the needs of vulnerable migrants
Reinforcing the institutional and legal framework for safeguarding and promoting human rights and enhancing the protection of migrants and asylum seekers are the key recommendations addressed to the Swiss authorities by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks, in a...
Position paper
School segregation still deprives many children of quality education
“The right to education is a fundamental human right. Yet, many European countries still deny thousands of children, including children with disabilities, Roma children and refugee or migrant children, equal access to it by keeping them in segregated schools. This is a violation of children’s...
Statement
European countries must acknowledge the Roma genocide
On the occasion of today’s commemoration of the “Pharrajimos’, the Roma genocide, I call on Council of Europe member states to make more vigorous efforts towards fully acknowledging the genocide and other past atrocities committed against the Roma. While some countries have in recent years taken...
Country visit report
Slovenia should pursue its efforts to protect vulnerable people
“Slovenia has undertaken a number of initiatives in recent years to address major human rights issues concerning migrants, Roma, the “erased” and people living in poverty. It is crucial to reinforce these efforts to ensure that no one is left behind and the human rights of all are upheld”, said...
Statement
The Commissioner urges the Czech authorities to create the necessary conditions to build a monument on the former Nazi concentration camp for Roma in Lety u Pisku
I am concerned about the persistent obstacles to removing the pig farm from the site of the former Nazi concentration camp for Roma in Lety u Pisku. The annual commemoration ceremony to honour the victims who suffered or died in this camp will take place on 13 May. I have repeatedly urged the...
Developments in human rights at local and regional levels
Developments in human rights at local and regional levels. Speech by Nils Muižnieks, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, at the 32nd Session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities CommDH/Speech(2017)2
Country visit report
Ireland should remove obstacles to the equality of Travellers, women and children
“The Irish government should ensure that the economic upturn benefits the most vulnerable groups and should promote equality of Travellers, women and children by removing the barriers that disproportionately hinder them from fully enjoying their rights”, said the Council of Europe Commissioner...